As a twentysomething liberal vegan living in Portland, OR, of course I shake my head at most lobbyists and assume that many government connections are corrupt in some way. I’m glad that Forks Over Knives mentioned the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine’s (who are currently suing over the absence of a vegetarian alternative to the USDA endorsed food pyramid) historic lawsuit win in 2000. That was, and is, a huge deal! There are conversations about governmental responsibility and why we’re eating what we’re eating and what’s being served and taught in public schools that should be happening in all circles. This film, amongst a rise of documentaries, the growing popular awareness of veganism and television programs (albeit not vegan) in recent years contribute to these discussions and lifestyle adaptations that people should be having.

There are huge dietary misconceptions pointed out in Forks Over Knives in appalling but almost comedic live-on-the-streets interviews. Sure, as a vegan I’m aware that you can get calcium from kale, and protein from beans, but what about most Americans?

Cancer

What really upset me deeply were hearing the numbers – the millions – of people who have been diagnosed with, and are dying from, cancer and other grave illnesses in the past 50 years. I admit that my own medical knowledge is limited and that I haven’t opened a science textbook since high school, but this film made me want to learn more, and made me want the world to learn more. I remember a period when my mom, who was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was a senior in high school, was sick and exclusively eating primarily vegetarian and all organic food. She had already undergone chemotherapy, and would suffer through it again, with hope, until her passing in 2005, but there was a time when all she wanted in her body were organic whole foods. I recall being newly vegan at the time, and wondering, why the fuss for organic? And why the fear of soy? I’ve since read much more, and heard more stories from those who have rejected chemotherapy and thrived – and became less frightened of the soy connection. My life was changed by my mom’s pacing, and naturally, I thought of her while watching this documentary. I’m not playing the what if’s game, but thinking of so many people dying of preventable, marketed diseases (type 2 diabetes, ugh) over the decades makes me so angry. I regularly do my independent research when I’m sick, be it on webmd.com or googling what tinctures I should drink and just where I should put that clove of garlic, but so many people just listen to their doctors. I’m fortunate (ba da bing) to have regular health insurance, and I have caught misinformation and lack of familiarity more than once. You should know, and believe in your body! The stories in Forks Over Knives of individuals embracing whole foods and exercise and overcoming degenerative diseases are near unbelievable; they’re that awe-inspiring. I hope there’s bonus footage in the works so we can learn even more, and hear just how someone learns to dig the flavor of quinoa over chicken nuggets, or shop in coops and Whole Foods vs. Walmart, for example.

The “V” Word

I did find it interesting that the ‘v’ word, vegan, wasn’t muttered, and then only briefly, and personally guarded in a way, by professional UFC fighter Mac Danzig. There are larger issues at stake than wearing witty vegan pins (which I totally do, of course) – throughout the world, particularly in fast food obsessed and marketed North America – not enough whole foods are eaten, or available, or considered normal, or delicious!

The Compassionate Sidenote

There’s more than one reason to go vegan, and I appreciated that compassion and respect for all creatures – the beliefs in a way, to counter the scientific facts, were briefly discussed by Gene Bauer of Farm Sanctuary and his animal friends. Need more heavy duty animal rights inspiration? Check out Earthlings.

The Message

Such a large part of the vegan community has been working for mainstream acceptance, and respect, for years and years. I’ve heard a lot of gripe about this – Are we selling out? Won’t this be another fad diet? Isn’t Silk owned by Dean Foods? Don’t I have enough vegan cookbooks?

All understandable worries, but with the message of Forks Over Knives, the true results of this growing field of ‘alternative’ medical research, and the rest of our reasons for being vegan, it’s our responsibility to spread the message. You should take your parents to see this. You should wonder why salads, of all things and of all all places, often suck in hospital cafeterias. Veganism is becoming a trendy diet and therefore, corporate industry, in North America and beyond. But – vegans have the best taste buds around, and when done right – eating style, too – and I won’t be complaining about people introducing more vegan, whole foods into their diet (I’ll just roll my eyes a little).

So, the Food

As I mentioned earlier, Forks Over Knives recommends a vegan diet, but doesn’t shout that. It’s more so about eating whole and raw foods, and getting the rest of the fast food eating world to realize just how flavorful and nutritious they are.

I really want to see this documentary. I tried to watch Earthlings, and I did watch the first 30 minutes, but it was too much for me, and since I’m aware of all the issues and vegan, I just stopped the documentary.

You mention degenerative diseases…. Do you remember if it talked about MS at all? Thanks.

Earthlings is a very heavy movie showing the extreme pain and neglect of animals in the animal kingdom and puts the ultimate responsibility on the consumer.

To me the pleasure of the eating experience depends:
–Taste which we can condition and improve through our food preparation skills
–The ethics: Is this dinner harmful or helpful to myself, my family, and to other species>
–Good company. And I consider plants to be good company and all my earthling friends.

My wife just went a program like “Forks Over Knives” called the Coronary Heart Improvement Project (CHIP). Her cholesterol dropped 67 points in six weeks, tiglicerides (fat floating in the blood)dropped 23%, and blood pressure and blood sugar both dropped ten points. She lost six pounds a went down two pant sizes and at age 67 was walking 10 miles a day.

I saw the premier of this film. It is outstanding! I have taken many research classes and this film is hard science but entertaining and inspiring. I’m going to do the CHIP program in April. Don’t wish me luck,I know it will work. Oh, my wife has become a gourmet vegan cook. This life style is simple AND delicious!

I’m SO glad you got to see it! It’s going to change the world this year 🙂

It’s key to point out that this movie advocates a whole foods plant-based diet free of oil and processed food, which makes up a lot of vegans diet. We gotta start eating healthier for our own sake, for the animals and the planet.